Ineffective Pest Control Program: Surveyors found multiple rodent traps in the kitchen and observed holes in walls and exterior openings near the building. Staff gave conflicting accounts about rats versus mice, who managed the traps, and when leadership learned of the problem. The dietary manager reported a rat had been caught weeks earlier, while the NHA said the concern was first known that week. Pest control records were incomplete, and staff education on pest control was not fully completed.
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program for bed bugs, as multiple staff and cognitively intact residents reported seeing bed bugs in several rooms, and one resident had documented red, itchy, bug bite-like lesions on her arms, back, and neck. Staff described capturing a suspected bed bug in a sealed container, stripping beds, and deep cleaning rooms after sightings in the rooms of two residents, while another room had a recent reported sighting with photos sent to the Director of Maintenance. The Director of Maintenance admitted that bed bugs periodically appeared and that he used a Gentrol mixture for at least three treatments over an extended period, despite manufacturer instructions to use the diluted solution within 48 hours, and he did not know the product’s purchase or expiration date. The NHA stated he was unaware the chemicals were donated from an outside job years earlier and had instructed the Director of Maintenance to use these facility-held chemicals instead of calling an exterminator.
Pest control was not effective in the kitchen dry storage area. A surveyor observed sticky residue, debris, trash, and mouse droppings on and around dry storage shelves, and staff reported there were no pest control units in the kitchen or dry storage room. Maintenance later confirmed the droppings were mouse droppings and said there had been a recent mouse issue that staff thought was fixed.
A resident with a left facial mass and multiple comorbidities was found with maggots and flies present on the wound, with nursing staff documenting ongoing issues of flies and maggots over several weeks. Despite the facility's pest control policy and regular general pest treatments in common areas, there was no evidence that pest control services were increased or that the resident's room was specifically treated for flies, and staff confirmed that exterminators were not directed to address flies in resident rooms.
Surveyors found that the facility did not maintain an effective pest control program, resulting in persistent fly infestations in resident rooms, hallways, and near the kitchen. Multiple residents and staff reported ongoing problems with flies, especially when food or garbage was present, and staff relied on manual methods like fly swatters and bug zappers instead of contacting the pest control company as required by facility policy.
The facility did not maintain an effective pest control program, and surveyors observed repeated fly and fruit fly activity in resident rooms, hallways, and around a meal cart on multiple units. Residents and staff reported the flies and gnats had been ongoing for months, with residents using fly swatters, fly strips, fans, and closed doors to cope with the problem. The DON stated there was no pest control policy, and pest control records showed recurring concerns such as midges in light traps, fly activity in fly lights, doors left open, fruit flies around drains, food debris in rooms, and ants in resident areas.
A widespread fly infestation was observed throughout the facility, with multiple residents and staff reporting persistent issues in resident rooms, hallways, dining areas, and the kitchen. Residents described using personal items to swat at flies and purchasing their own traps, while surveyors observed flies landing on food and residents during meals and treatments. Documentation showed lapses in scheduled pest control service visits, and the Maintenance Director was unaware of the extent of the problem.
Multiple residents reported and were observed to be affected by flies and ants in their rooms and common areas, with flies landing on a resident during an interview and others using fly swatters or sticky strips to manage the issue. Despite the facility's pest control policy, staff and maintenance acknowledged ongoing pest problems and could not confirm an effective plan to address the infestation.
Surveyors found that the facility lacked an effective pest control program, as evidenced by mouse droppings in the dry storage room and multiple exterior doors with large gaps and broken frames that allowed pest entry into the kitchen area. The Dietary Manager reported the issue to the Maintenance Director, but pest control services were not promptly provided, and invoices showed only limited pest control actions. Both the Maintenance Director and Administrator confirmed the need for door repairs to prevent further pest access.
A resident reported a painful bug bite on the R hand and said fruit flies were everywhere in the building; the surveyor also observed several fruit flies in the resident’s room. Record review and staff interviews showed the facility had no current pest control contract, no documentation of regular pest control visits, and had not had pest control service since February.
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